Service Awards - Faculty & Staff
Service Learning is a high‐impact college experience and part of our university's Community Engagement initiative. To recognize outstanding efforts by our members of our USC Upstate community, each year the Office of Service Learning and Community Engagement, in cooperation with the Office of the Provost, offers several awards each year to students, faculty, and staff who demonstrate superior commitment to Service Learning and Community Engagement
Annual Deadlines
Faculty/Staff Application |
March 15 |
Student Application | April 1 |
Celebration | Thursday of Finals Week |
Location | Administration Building Lobby |
GENERAL INFORMATION
Each award includes a cash prize. Awards will be contingent on the quality of the application and available funds; therefore, some awards may be presented to multiple recipients, while other awards may not be presented. While preference is given to first‐time awardees, previous winners are encouraged to reapply, particularly with new project/program developments. Outstanding applicants may be awarded in more than one category. For detailed information on eligibility, decision criteria, and the application process for each award, click on the award title below. Send questions and comments to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu.
Award Amount:
- $250 - Payable to the partner organization if applicable
Eligibility:
- Service partnership (hosting and mentoring) USC Upstate Service Learning students for at least two semesters
Nomination Procedure:
- Email a nomination statement detailing why the community partner should be named "Community Partner of the Year" to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu.
- Include observations/evidence of:
- Collaboration between partner and USC Upstate
- Partner's active involvement in determining the nature and implementation of service activities
- Partner's active interest (engaging, mentoring, and otherwise supporting) in USC Upstate Service Learning students
- Contribution to community needs
Application Procedure:
- Not applicable. Your nomination is your partner's application.
- Your nominee is welcome to submit supporting documentation through you or directly to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu
Decision Criteria:
- Evidence of collaboration between partner and USC Upstate
- Evidence of partner's active involvement in determining the nature and implementation of service activities
- Evidence of partner actively supporting (engaging, mentoring, evaluating, etc) USC Upstate Service Learning students
- Partner's contribution to community needs
- Preference given to first‐time awardees
Award Amount:
-
$100
Eligibility:
- Full or part‐time staff with at least 12 months of continuous service at USC Upstate
Nomination Procedure:
- Online Nomination Form (nominees will be invited to apply)
- Self‐nominations are welcome. Simply complete the application procedure
Application Procedure:
- Online Reflective Personal Statement describing your volunteer engagement in community Please include any connections to USC Upstate
- At least one Statement of Support from a community partner, colleague, or other stakeholder required.
- Statements of Support may be emailed to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu, mailed via Campus Mail or USPS to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303, or completed online: share this link with your Recommender: Faculty Support Statement Form - Additional materials are welcome via email or surface mail
- Application materials (including statements of support) must be submitted by the Application Date to be considered
Decision Criteria:
- Sustained and meaningful volunteer efforts including service off‐campus
- Positive ambassador for USC Upstate in the community and bridge between USC Upstate and our community
- Contribution to recruiting or encouraging volunteerism in others both on and off campus
- Supports collaboration among stakeholders and/or demonstrates organizational leadership
- Preference given to first‐time awardees
Award Amount:
-
$100
Eligibility:
- Full or part‐time faculty with at least 2 semesters of continuous service at USC Upstate
Nomination Procedure:
- Online Nomination Form (nominees will be invited to apply)
- Self‐nominations are welcome. Simply complete the application procedure
Application Procedure:
- Online Reflective Personal Statement describing your volunteer engagement in community Please include any connections to USC Upstate
- At least one Statement of Support from a community partner, colleague, or other stakeholder required.
- Statements of Support may be emailed to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu, mailed via Campus Mail or USPS to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303, or completed online: share this link with your Recommender: Faculty Support Statement Form - Additional materials are welcome via email or surface mail
- Application materials (including statements of support) must be submitted by the Application Date to be consider
Decision Criteria:
- Sustained and meaningful volunteer efforts including service off‐campus
- Positive ambassador for USC Upstate in the community and bridge between USC Upstate and our community
- Contribution to recruiting or encouraging volunteerism in others both on and off campusContribution to recruiting or encouraging volunteerism in others both on and off campus
- Supports collaboration among stakeholders and/or demonstrates organizational leadership
- Preference given to first‐time awardees
Award Amount:
-
$250
Eligibility:
- Adjunct faculty with at least 2 semesters Service-Learning experience at USC Upstate
- Significant contribution to development and/or improvement of at least one Service Course
Decision Criteria:
- Meets and exceeds all expectations for Service-Learning at USC Upstate
- Clear indications of best Service-Learning practices, including but not limited to:
- Enhances higher education's contribution to the public good
- Meaningful integration of the service experience with course content
- Ample opportunities for, and guidance in, meaningful reflection
- Positive and sustained impact on both students and community
- Encourages critical thinking and leadership in students
- Sustained reciprocal partnership(s) meeting the needs of community partner(s)
- Innovation design with clear benefits for students, community partners and USC Upstate
- Demonstrates integration and use of best practices in online teaching, supporting the service learning course
- Preference given to first-time awardees
Application Procedure:
- Reflective Personal Statement describing your impact through service and the service experience's impact on you (200~500 words, please). Statements may be emailed to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu or surface mailed (to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303)
- At least one Statement of Support from a co-author, colleague, and/or community partner(s)
- Statements may be emailed to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu or surface mailed (to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303)
- Additional materials are welcome
- Application materials (including statements of support) must be submitted by the Application Date to be considered
Award Amount:
-
$500
Eligibility:
- Full or part‐time faculty or teaching staff with at least 2 semesters Service‐Learning experience at USC Upstate
- At least one newly created Service‐Learning course or traditional course converted to Service Learning
Nomination Procedure:
- Online Nomination Form (nominees will be invited to apply)
- Self‐nominations are welcome. Simply complete the application procedure
Application Procedure:
- Reflective Personal Statement describing your impact through service and the service experience's impact on you AND how the hybrid/online nature of your course has been advantageous (~500 words, please). Statements may be completed online here, emailed (to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu), or surface mailed (to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303)
- Copy(s) of course syllabus(i) may be emailed (to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu), or surface mailed (to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303)
- At least one Statement of Support from a co‐author, colleague, and/or community partner(s)
- Statements of Support may be emailed to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu, mailed via Campus Mail or USPS to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303, or completed online: share this link with your Recommender: Faculty Support Statement Form - Additional materials are welcome via email or surface mail
- Application materials (including statements of support) must be submitted by the Application Date to be considered
Decision Criteria:
- Meets and exceeds all expectations for Service‐Learning at USC Upstate
- Clear indications of best Service‐Learning practices, including but not limited to:
- Enhances higher education's contribution to the public good
- Meaningful integration of the service experience with course content
- Ample opportunities for, and guidance in, meaningful reflection
- Positive and sustained impact on both students and community
- Encourages critical thinking and leadership in students - Sustained reciprocal partnership(s) meeting the needs of community partner(s)
- Innovation design with clear benefits for students, community partners and USC Upstate
- Demonstrates integration and use of best practices in online teaching, supporting the service learning course
- Preference given to first‐time awardees
Award Amount:
-
$500
Eligibility:
- Full or part‐time faculty or teaching staff with at least 2 semesters Service‐Learning experience at USC Upstate
- At least one newly created Service Learning course or traditional course converted to Service Learning
Nomination Procedure:
- Online Nomination Form (nominees will be invited to apply)
- Self‐nominations are welcome. Simply complete the application procedure
Application Procedure:
- Reflective Personal Statement describing your impact through service and the service experience's impact on you AND how the hybrid/online nature of your course has been advantageous (~500 words, please). Statements may be completed online here, emailed (to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu), or surface mailed (to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303)
- Copy(s) of course syllabus(i) may be emailed (to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu), or surface mailed (to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303)
- At least one Statement of Support from a co‐author, colleague, and/or community partner(s)
- Statements of Support may be emailed to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu, mailed via Campus Mail or USPS to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303, or completed online: share this link with your Recommender: Faculty Support Statement Form - Additional materials are welcome via email or surface mail
- Application materials (including statements of support) must be submitted by the Application Date to be considered
Decision Criteria:
- Meets and exceeds all expectations for Service‐Learning at USC Upstate
- Clear indications of best Service‐Learning practices, including but not limited to:
- Enhances higher education's contribution to the public good
- Meaningful integration of the service experience with course content
- Ample opportunities for, and guidance in, meaningful reflection
- Positive and sustained impact on both students and community
- Encourages critical thinking and leadership in students - Sustained reciprocal partnership(s) meeting the needs of community partner(s)
- Innovation design with clear benefits for students, community partners and USC Upstate
- Demonstrates integration and use of best practices in online teaching, supporting the service learning course
- Preference given to first‐time awardees
Award Amount:
-
$500
Eligibility:
- Full or part‐time faculty or teaching staff with at least 2 semesters Service Learning experience at USC Upstate
- At least one published paper or creative work relating to Service‐Learning work done at USC Upstate
Nomination Procedure:
- Online Nomination Form (nominees will be invited to apply)
- Self‐nominations are welcome. Simply complete the application procedure
Application Procedure:
- Reflective Personal Statement describing your impact through service and the service experience's impact on you (200~ 500 words, please). Statements may be completed online here, emailed (to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu), or surface mailed (to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303)
- Copy(s) of published project(s) may be emailed (to OSLCE@uscupstate.edu), or surface mailed (to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303)
- At least one Statement of Support from a co‐author, colleague, and/or community partner(s)
- Statements of Support may be emailed to ServiceLearning@uscupstate.edu, mailed via Campus Mail or USPS to OSLCE, USC Upstate, CLC 203, Spartanburg, SC 29303, or completed online: share this link with your Recommender: Faculty Support Statement Form - Additional materials are welcome via email or surface mail
- Application materials (including statements of support) must be submitted by the Application Date to be considered
Decision Criteria:
- Positive and sustained community impact as reflected in the published project(s) and personal statement
- Excellence in critical thinking and quality reflection as reflected in the published project(s) and personal statement
- Service accomplishment and professionalism with specific community partner(s) as reflected in the published project(s)
- Potential of the published project to motivate and inspire readers
- Preference given to first‐time awardees